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Many emotional and behavioral problems first emerge in primary school and are the forerunners of mental health problems occurring in adolescence. However, the extent that these problems may be associated with academic failure has been explored less. We aimed to quantify the association between emotional and behavioral problems with academic performance.

A stratified random sample of 8‐ to 9‐year‐olds (N = 1239) were recruited from schools in Australia. Data linkage was performed with a national assessment of academic performance to assess reading and numeracy. Parent report assessed emotional and behavioral problems with students dichotomized into “borderline/abnormal” and “normal” categories.

One in 5 grade 3 students fell in the “borderline/abnormal” category. Boys with total difficulties (β = ‐47.8, 95% CI: ‐62.8 to ‐32.8), conduct problems …